signedmessage

A signed message is a digital message that has been cryptographically signed by its sender. This signature serves to verify the authenticity and integrity of the message. The signing process typically involves using the sender's private key to generate a unique signature based on the message content. Anyone with the sender's corresponding public key can then verify that the signature is valid and that the message has not been altered since it was signed.

The primary purposes of a signed message are authentication and non-repudiation. Authentication ensures that the message genuinely came from the claimed sender, as only they possess the private key needed to create the signature. Non-repudiation means that the sender cannot later deny having sent the message, as the signature provides irrefutable proof of their origin.

Signed messages are used in various applications, including secure email, digital certificates, software distribution, and financial transactions. By providing assurance about the sender and the message's integrity, signed messages play a crucial role in establishing trust in digital communications and transactions. The underlying cryptographic algorithms, such as RSA or ECDSA, are fundamental to the security and reliability of signed messages.